Wheel.



P. G. ANDERSON.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. 1915.

Lfififiw u Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

P. G. ANDERSON.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-11119.16.

1. ,QQQQUfi; Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. G. ANDERSON.

WHE EL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11- 1916.

Patented Sept. 1!, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

" %TATE% AENT @FFTQM PER G. ANDERSON, on ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'roBATHRICK & PALMER MACHINE 00., INCORPORATED, or ELKHAJM', INDIANA.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patggntgfl g e ML 3191 Applicationfiled September 11, 1916. Serial No. 119,518.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that 1, PER Gr. A DERsoN,"

wheels, and particularly to a wheel of that class wherein the spokes andrim are formed from a blank stamped up from sheet metal, the primaryobject of the present invention being to provide a novel form andconstruetion of rim and spokes, whereby lightness with strength anddurability are obtained, and further to provide a novel construction ofhub and means for clamping the spokes thereto, whereby maximum strengthand durability at the point of connection is at.

forded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel of thischaracter which is composed of a comparatively few number of parts,which can be'easily and conveniently assembled to produce the wheelstructure.

The invention consists in the features ofconstruction and thecombinationand arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described, defined inthe claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

I which:

Figure 1 is an outer side elevation of a vehicle wheel constructed inaccordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hub;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary perspective vlew of one of the spoke ends;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another spoke end' Fig. 6 is a transversesection showing a modified form of rim; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views showing othe modified forms of rims.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I provide a hub 1,preferably comprising a casting having the tubular side entensions 2 and3, the former being of less diameter than the hub body to provide acontiguous annular shoulder 4, the latter being provided with a threadedportion for the recepconnected with the opposite edges 0 tion of a hubcap. The side extension 3 is also of less diameter than the body of thehub to provide an annular shoulder 7. The shoulder 7 is formed partly bythe inner portion of an annular vertical flange 8 formed upon one sideof the hub body and connecting the same with a horizontal flange 9surrounding the hub body, the inner free edge of said flange 9 formingan abutment surface 10 which is in line with the shoulder or abutmentsurface 4.

The rim 11 of the wheel comprises a transversely flat plate which isprovided at one side with a retaining flange 12 and which is integralwith spoke elements 13 and 14, said spoke elements extending inwardly atdiverging angles toward opposite sides of the hub and alternating inarrangement with each other. The rim and spoke elements are formed, inpractice, from a single piece of sheet metal first stamped to produce ablank of the desired contour and then bent into shape, the spokes 13 and1 1 being produced by rolling portions of the metal into tubular orcylindrical form. The outer ends of these spokes are respectively therim 11 by connecting webs 15 and 16, the web 15 being made continuouswith the flange 12, which is made of extra thickness by the doubling ofthe sheet metal as shown. The portions of the metal forming the web 16are displaced at intervals around the wheel to provide attaching flanges17, while the inner ends of the spokes 13 and 14 are formed to clearlyabut against the outer face of the spoke supporting flange 9 and arerespectively provided with extensions 18 and 19 at 7 one side forattachment thereto.

The extensions 18 of the spokes13 are arranged to bear against the innersurfaces of hollow bosses 20 formed upon the flange 9 and are clampedagainst said bosses by clamping members 21 secured to the bosses byrivets 22, the heads of which are housed within the bosses, as shown.Said spokes are also provided at their outer side with concaved portions23, which are engaged and held in engagement with the bosses by an innerclamping plate 2 1 which surrounds the portion 2 of the hub and which isfastened in position by transverse bolts 25.

The extensions 19 of the spokes 14: fit against an abutment or clampingsurface 26 formed on the vertical flange 8 and are clamped against saidsurface by an outer annular clamping plate 27, through which ex.tensions and plates the bolts 25 also pass and are fitted with 'nuts 27,whereby the said spoke extensions 19 and clamping'plate are secured inposition. The clamping platebears against the shoulder 7 and is providedat its outer edge with inclined lugs or oflsets 28 which engage theinner ends of the body portions of the spokes 14 and thus reinforce andhold said spokes from outward deflec-. tion.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the rim andspokes may be economicallyconstructed of sheet metal to provide acombined rim and spoke structure of maximum strength and durability, andthat by the described construction of the hub and clamping elements theinner ends of the spokes may be fastened to the hub in a firm andsecure. manner. This construction also enables a wheel to be made whichis composed of parts capable of being readily assembled for use andalso. disassembled for repairs or other purposes, while maintaining itsintegrity under stresses and strains in service. The constructiondescribed further provides for the use of a hub of maximum strengthadapting the wheel to be used upon automobiles andother comparativelyheavy vehicles.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the webs 15 and 16extend inwardly from the edges of the rim plate 11 on converging linesand abut and are arcuately curved to form a connecting portion in inwhich the webs mutually reinforce and brace each other, and the form ofrim disclosed in said figures is adapted for use in connection with anouter demountable rim 29 adapted for holding a clencher tire,

which rim may be provided with the usual attaching clips or webs 30which are secured to the flanges 17 by bolts or analogous fastenings 31.As shown in Fig. 7, the construction ma be modified by forming astraight or at rim ll integral with the Webs 15 and 16 and brazing orotherwise fastening thereto a cast or rolled metal outer rim plate 32having at one side a retaining flange 33 and which is adapted to receivea demountable rim of the type shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification in which the wheel rim 11 isformed .at one side to rovide a retaining flange 34 similar to the ange12 and at its opposite side to form a depressed channel 35, such a typeof rim being adapted for cooperation with an outer demountable rimadapted to carry a straight side tire.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a rim similar in construction to the rim shown inFig. 8, with the exception that the webs 15 and 15 are straight insteadof curved and are arranged in V-shaped formation, a type of structurewhich may be employed if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings,the construction and mode of use of my improved wheel will be readilyunderstood, and it will be seen that the invention provides a wheelincluding a cast 'or drop forged hub in connection with a unitary spokeand rim structure, together with connecting means whereby the spokes arefirmly clamped to provide a wheel of great strength and durability.Other advantages will be apparent to those versed in the art from theforegoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A Wheel including a rim and spokes formed in a unitary structure fromsheet metal, the spokes being coupled to the rim by webs having innerabutting portions and outer diverging portions, one of said webs havingflanges struck outwardly therefrom for engagement with fastening meansof a demountable rim.

2. A wheel including a rim and spokes formed as a unitary structure fromsheet metal, said spokes being coupled to the rim by webs having innerabutting portions and outer diverging portions, one of' said webs havingflanges struck outwardly therefrom for engagement with fastening meansof a demountable rim, the spokes at opposite sides of the wheel being ofunequal lengths and having extensions at their inner ends, a hub, andmeans for securing said spoke extensions to the hub.

3. A wheel comprising a hub, a rim and spokes formed of a unitarystructure of sheet metal, said spokes having inner end portions bearingagainst the periphery of the hub and provided with extensions,

.clamping plates engaging the spokes and their extensions, and fasteningmeans for uniting the aforesaid parts.

4. A wheel comprising a hub having end portions and a surroundingannular flange carrying clamping surfaces at opposite sides thereof, arim and spokes formed as a unitary structure of sheet metal, said spokeshaving inner end portions resting against said flange and extensionsresting against memos the spokes at one side of the center of the wheelto the series of clamping members, a clamping plate engaging theabutment surface at the opposite side of the Wheel and clamping theextensions of the other spokes thereagainst, and bolts passing throughthe extensions of the latter named spokes and the said clamping platesand securing the parts in position.

6. In a wheel, a rim and spokes formed of sheet metal, said rim andspokes being provided with connecting webs, one of said Webs havingflanges struck outwardlt therefrom for engagement with fastening meansof a demountable rim.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence oftwo Witnesses.

PER G. ANDERSQN,

Witnesses:

V. L. Brsnor, FRED J. PAMEEIR.

